Medicare covers some home care - but only skilled home health under specific rules, not ongoing personal or custodial care. This guide explains what's covered, who qualifies, what it costs, and where to turn if Medicare won't pay, with links to the official Medicare source.
Last verified 2026-06-20
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Official sources
What Medicare home health covers
Original Medicare covers eligible home health services - part-time or intermittent skilled nursing care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, medical social services, and part-time home health aide care - when they are tied to a skilled need and provided by a Medicare-certified home health agency.
Skilled nursing on a part-time or intermittent basis.
Physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
Part-time home health aide care when you also need skilled care.
To qualify, a doctor (or allowed provider) must certify that you need skilled care and set up a plan of care, and you must be homebound - meaning leaving home takes a considerable, taxing effort. The care must be ordered through a face-to-face visit and delivered by a Medicare-certified home health agency.
A doctor must certify the need for skilled care and review the plan of care.
You must be certified as homebound.
Care must come from a Medicare-certified home health agency.
Medicare does not pay for 24-hour-a-day care at home, or for help that is only custodial - meals delivered to your home, or homemaker services like shopping and cleaning when that is the only care you need. These limits are why many families combine Medicare with other programs or private pay.
No 24/7 in-home care.
No meal delivery.
No homemaker or personal care when that is the only care you need.
For covered home health services you generally pay nothing. For durable medical equipment (like a wheelchair or walker) ordered as part of your care, you typically pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the Part B deductible. Confirm specifics with your plan and the official Medicare source.
$0 for covered home health services.
20% of the Medicare-approved amount for durable medical equipment.
Talk to your doctor about whether you need skilled home health care. If you qualify, they will order it and help you choose a Medicare-certified agency. You can compare Medicare-certified home health agencies near you on Medicare's official Care Compare tool before you decide.
Ask your doctor to evaluate and order home health if appropriate.
Use Medicare Care Compare to find and compare certified agencies.
When you need ongoing personal or custodial care that Medicare does not pay for, other programs may help - Medi-Cal long-term services, In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), VA Aid & Attendance, long-term care insurance, or private pay. See our how-to-pay-for-home-care guide for each option and its official source.
Low-income Californians may qualify for Medi-Cal LTSS or IHSS.
Medicare coverage rules, costs, and eligibility change and depend on your situation. This page summarizes official Medicare guidance in plain language - it is not medical, legal, or insurance advice. Confirm details with the linked Medicare.gov source or 1-800-MEDICARE.
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